Opinion Pieces

Most parents tell their children to stay away from strangers on the street who try to approach them, or offer them strange candy from their cars. I’ve always complied with my parents’ request because I didn’t have reason to question it; until just recently.

I slam the front door behind me as I run inside my house, making a noise so loud the house shakes from the vibration. I jump onto my pillow-top bed, reaching for the charcoal notebook by my pillow.

I flip through the filled pages and begin to write on a fresh one. My journal acts as a therapist, it listens and doesn’t judge me. As a busy, stressed out teenage girl, I need to blow off steam occasionally.

Ethical Culture Fieldston School, as one might assume based on its name, is supposed to be an institution of the absolute highest moral standards. It prides itself in its diversity, acceptance, and ethical behavior. Therefore, one might be surprised to hear of the insensitive, degrading, and blatantly unethical comments that are said on a far too regular basis on campus.

One. The number of books I’d read in a school day in public school. One. The number of books I read recreationally my freshman year at Baldwin. Funny how that happens. Not really.

Baldwin advertises itself as the number one all-girls school on the Main Line, and Niche voted Baldwin the number one private school in the state. What I want to know is how such a distinguished school can supply its students with such strong tools but deprive them of the time to cultivate one of the most important skills a student can have: the curiosity for and passion of reading.

The familiar beat of my favorite songs comes on the radio and I instantly feel my lips breaking into a smile. The beat pulsing through my veins and remembering every word with ease puts me into one of the best moods ever.

Sure. There are far more ground breaking issues than this – another Kardashian divorce or a political debate would easily turn more heads. But after containing my thoughts since a Hannah Montana concert in sixth grade, I can’t help but express the unpopular opinion I’ve held for all of eternity: people overuse their cell phones during concerts.

Despite its name, After Midnight’s 90 minutes will leave you with plenty of time to get home before 10:00 PM has even arrived. The absence of an intermission is certainly not a mistake.

Completely captivated by the cast, not a single audience member wishes to stretch their legs at the cost of missing an extraordinary note hit by the renowned Patti LaBelle, or an outstanding flip made by exquisite dancer Karine Plantadit.

Even though Brett Easton Ellis’ work is known for representing people who lack a moral compass or any real empathy, his debut novel, Less Than Zero, contains some of his coldest characters to date.

The story starts off with the introduction of the main character, known as Clay, who comes home to Los Angeles with his college roommate, Daniel, from New Hampshire for winter break. During his stay, he tries to reconnect with old friends but finds himself feeling unsatisfied by his old life.